Since its establishment in 2019, Borealis Philanthropy’s Disability Inclusion Fund (DIF) has been a force in strengthening the disability justice movement, expanding the capacity of grassroots disabled-led organizations, and amplifying its leaders at its forefront. This month, the DIF is proud to announce $4.75 million in awards to 60 disabled-led organizations and visionaries who are advancing disability justice, rights, and innovative technologies to build joyful futures free of ableism.
Greyhound Bus Depot in Los Angeles, Diane Coleman, Steve Remington and Rick Wilson.
Through the leadership and wisdom of its participatory grantmaking committee—a dedicated group of disabled organizers, artists, educators, and advocates who each brought deep care and expertise to this process—the DIF is extending continuing support to 36 returning grantees and is also welcoming 15 new organizations, focused in the areas of climate justice, media and storytelling, and economic empowerment, reflecting the DIF’s commitment to long-term power building and nurturing emerging leaders.
This year’s awards also include $700,000 to nine organizations through the DIF x Tech Fund, a partnership with the Ford Foundation and MacArthur Foundation to bring about transformational change at the intersections of disability rights, justice, and technology. As the only national fund dedicated to this work, these critical investments are bolstering organizers and organizations leading progress in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Together, this cohort of disabled-led and majority BIPOC-led organizations are addressing critical issues nationwide, from affordable housing and voting rights, equitable access to assistive technologies, and reentry support for formerly incarcerated Deaf and/or disabled folks—to holistic health and mental wellness to emergency disasters and preparedness response. These leaders are building bridges across social justice movements, embedding disability justice frameworks in every aspect of their work, and creating a blueprint of liberatory practices for more joyful futures for all.
Here are the incredible organizations that belong to the DIF’s 2024-2025 cohort:
DIF x Tech Grantee Partners
- AImpower
- Atomic Hands
- Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
- Criptastic/Spokeland
- Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
- Make Good
- New Disabled South
- Rogers Park Community Action
- Visionaries of the Creative Arts
DIF Core Grantee Partners
*New Grantee Partners
- Advocating Change Together
- Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network
- Black Phoenix Organizing Collective
- Center for Self-Advocacy
- Chainless Change
- Coalition of Texans with Disabilities
- Communications First
- Count Us In
- Cow Tipping Press*
- Creating Freedom Movements*
- Crushing Colonialism*
- DeafHope
- Detroit Disability Power
- Disability Culture Lab*
- Disability Justice Cultural Club
- Disability Lead
- DiversAbility Incorporated
- El Grupo Vida
- Fireweed Collective
- Gathering Strength
- Generation Patient / HAS
- Grimalkin Records Inc.*
- Health Justice Commons
- HEARD
- Imagine WaterWorks Collective*
- Independence Seekers Project*
- Intransitive
- Lighthouse Foundation of Chicagoland*
- Living Hope Wheelchair Association
- METAS
- Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity*
- National Pain
- Native American Disability Law Center
- North Carolina Black Disabilities Network*
- Ori Art Gallery*
- Peacock Rebellion
- People First Wisconsin
- Prism Reports
- Project LETS
- Rogers Park Community Action Network
- Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered
- Senior & Disability Action
- Sins Invalid
- Sound Theatre Company
- The Black Trans Prayer Book*
- The Confess Project of Metro Atlanta*
- The Mckenzie Project Inc.*
- The Queer Trans Project*
- United Hmong with Disabilities
- Yoga Behind Bars*
- Visionaries of the Creative Arts
As we enter a year where we can expect heightened attacks on disabled communities and the disability justice principles that advance justice for us all—our movements must be fortified and protected with urgency. The DIF is grateful for the support of the President’s Council on Disability Inclusion in Philanthropy and our broader donor table, whose partnership makes this critical work possible. We invite other funders to join us and utilize the Fund as a mechanism to pool and distribute strategic and aligned funding to bolster the disability justice movement. To learn more about how to partner with the DIF, please connect with us at DIF@borealisphilanthropy.org.